STEWART ISLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18007, 6 August 1920, Page 6

STEWART ISLAND

BETTER STEAMER SERVICE URGED. TUTANEKAI RECOMMENDED. ROUND TRIP SUGGESTED. MINISTER'S FAVOURABLE REPLY. ' (From Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 5. . Tho Petitions Committee to-day reported on a petition of Robert Scatter, of Otautau, and 769 others, asking for a bettor ferry service between Stewart Island and tho mainland. The committee expressed the opinion that tho petition be referred! to the Government for favourable© consideration, with a suggestion, that tho Tutanekai should bo put on for one season of five months, December to April, on a Bluff-Stewart Island-Milford Sound athl Martin's Bay rcund. Mr Dickson spofee in support of the recommendation, and suggested that the Government should assist with a view to tho procuring of a boat that would be suitable both for touring purposes and for taking passengers between Stewart Island and the mainland. The suggestion had been made by tho member for Awarua that' tho Tutanekai might bo put on tho Stewart Island sen - ice, and also to take passengers to and from Milford Sound and Martin's Bay. Tho latter place was now cut off altogether. Visitors who went overland to Milford Sound complained that they had to return the same way. lie suggested a round trip via and on to Stewart Island and Bluff. Stewart Island was described as the most beautiful island in the Pacific. He suggested that all members of tho Houso should visit it.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan congratulated the committee upon its report. There could bo no doubt about the attractions of Stewart Island from a business point of view. The Government should do all it could to make tracks and to assist people to visit our scenic resorts. There was a possibility of a big traffic from Australia on the part of people who wanted to get away from tho heat there, and who would like to see our scenery. Thero was but a small population there, but there were industries that might be established there. There wa.3. for instance, the fishing industry in Paterson's Inlet. There thero was water that could accommodate the largest steamers. New • Zealand should consider its scenic resorts from a national point of view. He urged the Prime Minister to go there. An Hon. Member: Hasn't he been there? The Hon. E. P. Lee: He's going to Milford Sound soon. Mr Horn referred to the former Union Steam Shin. Company's excursions, which were discontinued after the wreck of the Wcikare. He suggested that the Government should take the step recommended by the committee.

Mr G.. Mitchell said the Government should link up the various ports with a State service.

Mr Statham thought something should bo dono to improve the service between Bluff and Stewart Island, and something should be done to encourage tourist traffic generally in the South Island. There was a feeling there that people were often persuaded not to visit the South Island. Tho Tourist. Department should arrange a comprehensive scheme of travel for tourists there.

Sir A. S. Malcolm supported the proposal. There was a feeling, he said, that a- number of the southern scenic resorts were not advertised in the way that the North Island resorts were.

Mr J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) expressed approval of the report. Tho present service to Stewart Island had been a burning one for very many years. On the tug that made the trip there, passengers, waves, and everything pise were mixed up on the deck of that. vessel'. Thousands of people who would visit the island were prevented from doing so owing to the want of proper steamer accommodation. Stewart Island was the most southern part of his Majesty's dominions. Hon. Members: No, no. Mr Hamilton: Ifs the most southern electorate in the world.—(Hon. Members: Ah, and laughter.) Rotorua was' not in it with the Sounds and Stewart Island, and l there they would find the best fishing grounds in the world.

Mr T. W. Rhodes (Thames) spoke of the beautiful scenery of the island. Tho conclusion. of the committee, was arrived at unanimously, and all were impressed with the evidence brought before them. Mr E. Kellett (Dunedin North) urged that some better methods should bo adopted by the Tourist Department in connection with visits to the Sounds. He had once booked a ticket for "the finest walk in the world," but had- never got there. The car went over a bank, and he had great; difficulty in getting his money back.

Mr A. Hamilton (Wallace) said people who had been all round tho world, and had never been sick, got sick going to Stewart Island. —(Laughter.) It was not, ho added . hastily, becaiise of the sea, it was the ship. He advocated tho round trip via Manapouri and To Anau to Milford Sound, Stewart Island, and the BlnfT. If the Tutanekai was put. oil it would he a paying proposition. Tho question of the navigation of the Waiau should also be considered.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy saicl ho had listened _ with great interest to what, had been said. The round trip suggested was a very Rood one, and now tho.war was over ho thought something more might be done by tho Government and his department to arrange a better service to Stewart Island. Ha would look into the matter, with a view to an improvement. He felt sure the Government would meet the enterprising- people •T>f the south by granting a subsidy to a, better service. He thou eht generally that, more should be done in the south than had l«en done in the past. He did not, however, agree that the South Island had not been advertised in tho north. He had recently noticed advertisements about the south in the Grand Hotel and several other hotels he had- gone into.—(Laughter.) Ho could assure hon. members that during the coming season the facilities for tourists visiting the South Island would be a great, deal bettor than they had been before, and ho would take into serious consideration the question of subsidising- a service to Stewart Island.